Port Covington gets task force to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities

Brigance Brigade Foundation, a Hunt Valley-based ALS support organization, has been selected to lead an independent task force to ensure Port Covington is designed to meet accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities.

The $5 billion redevelopment project by Sagamore Development Co., Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank’s private development firm, is expected to bring 4.1 million square feet of mixed-use development to the 235-acre site in South Baltimore and is an opportunity for developers to set a global model for accessibility, said Marc Weller, president of Sagamore Development, in a statement.

“The redevelopment of Port Covington provides us with an amazing opportunity to create spaces that allow everyone to comfortably live, work and play,” Weller said in a statement. “We’re extremely excited to work with the Brigance Brigade, leveraging its expertise to ensure people of all abilities are able to experience everything Port Covington has to offer.”

The street, which required approval from Baltimore’s City Council, is the first official new public road in the $5.5 billion Port...

(Sarah Gantz)

Brigance Brigade was founded by former Ravens linebacker O.J. Brigance, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2007, and his wife, Chanda. The organization offers support services for people living with ALS, a nervous system disease that weakens muscles and is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

“We are honored to work with the Port Covington development team to advocate for PALS (People living with ALS) and others with disabilities in the Port Covington project and beyond,” Brigance said in a statement.

Sagamore also announced Williams Associates of Severna Park as the designer for the first signal intersection to be rebuilt in the development area — Cromwell Street and Insulator Drive.

Williams and Brigance Brigade will work together to make sure the design meets accessibility best practices.

Sagamore expects to submit the design to the city for approval by February.

Sagamore Development Co. officials say Port Covington development is still on track.

Sagamore Development Co. officials say Port Covington development is still on track.